Pace has become the third Chicago-area transit agency to pass a 2019 budget without fare hikes, though the suburban bus service did cut some routes.

The budget the Pace board approved on Wednesday evening includes $1.7 million to improve on-time performance on some suburban routes and launch the Milwaukee Avenue “Pulse Line,” a high-frequency service that will run between the CTA’s Jefferson Park Blue Line station and the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles.

Pace said the 12 routes affected by the proposed service cuts do not get enough riders. The cuts include the 326 West Irving Park and the 661 Southwest Westmont. Two routes originally targeted for cuts — the 590 Round Lake Area Call-n-Ride and the 681 Lincoln Park-Naperville Metra — were spared after community input.

Wednesday’s meeting was the last for longtime Executive Director T.J. Ross, who is retiring this month. Pace Deputy Executive Director Rocky Donahue has been named acting executive director.

The CTA and Metra also passed 2019 budgets this month without fare hikes, though all three agencies say they need more state money for both operations and new equipment. All three had raised fares for this year.